Don’t Miss: Kim Tae-ri is the shining light in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born (NC16)

Disney+
★★★★☆

Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born introduces viewers to the world of gukgeuk, a traditional all-female Korean musical theater that was popular in South Korea in the 1950s.

Based on an award-winning South Korean webtoon of the same name, the period drama stars Kim Tae-ri as the title character.

Jeongnyeon is a country girl who falls in love with gukgeuk when a touring theater company performs in her town.

Against his mother’s wishes, Jeongnyeon, a singing prodigy, leaves home for Seoul. She auditions as a trainee singer with the Maeran musical troupe to fulfill her dream of becoming a gukgeuk star.

The first four episodes of the 12-episode drama series have aired and the series looks promising, thanks to its compelling underdog story and stellar performances from the entire cast.

Here are three reasons to add Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born to your watchlist.

1. Accomplished artist

Kim never fails to impress. The 34-year-old South Korean actress seems to enjoy challenging herself by taking on various roles and has won numerous accolades over time.

She was a noblewoman turned resistance fighter in Mr Sunshine (2018), her small screen debut. Her follow-up was the youth drama series Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), in which she played the role of a fencer. She then transforms into a possessed woman in the thriller series Revenant (2023).

It wouldn’t be surprising if Kim was nominated for – or won – best actress trophies for her role as Jeongnyeon, a firebrand with a talent for singing.

The series is only four episodes long and Kim’s versatility is already on full display, especially in episode 3, in which Jeongnyeon makes her stage debut as a pansori (a traditional Korean form of singing and dancing) performer. narratives).

2. Brotherhood, mentorship and rivalries